Ditching-level



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet. 1.

E. REICHENBACH.

DIIOHING LEVEL. No. 383,767. Patented May 29, 1888..

WITNESSES: INVENTORZ BY 8AM V I AT'I' O RNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet E. REIGHENBACH.

' DITOHING LEVEL.

No. 383,767. Patented May 29, 1888.

ILL. Z

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

'NrTED TATES EDVARD REIGHENBAOH, OF ORRVILLE, OHIO.

DlTCHiNG-LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 883,767, dated May 29, 1888.

Application filed February 4, 1858. Serial No. 262,993. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, EDWARD REIOHENBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orrvillc, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, havejnvented certain new and useful Improvementsin DitchingLcvels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful leveling-instrument for employment in making ditches for draining land and other similar purposes.

The accompanying drawings (two sheets) illustrate the invention. 7

Figure 1 is a top view of the body of-the level. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the levelinstrument mounted on its legs. Fig. 3 shows two views of the sight at the'target end of the level. Fig. 4 shows two views of the front sight or eye-piece end of the level. Fig. 5 is ascctional side view of the tripod-head.

Fig. 6 is an inverted or bottom plan of the tripod-head. Fig. 7 shows one leg separate and the parallel position the three legs may take when it is desired to carry the instrument. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show different side views of the target. Fig. 11 shows a vertical section of the targetblock clamp. Fig. 12 is a crosssection of the target-rod.

The body A of the level has at each end a boss, B C, elevated above the top surface. Each boss has a sight-bore, a. The eyepiece boss B has at one end a plate, 0, having holes 0, vertically one above the other. The other boss, 0, has in its bore two wires, d, one cross ing the other. On the top surface, midway between the two sight-bosses, is a glass spiritlevel, D, extending lengthwise of the body. This body, as thus far described, is substantially the same as that shown, described, and claimed in Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 341,690, granted me May 11, 1886.

The body A has two vertical holes, 6, enteringat the lower side and extendingupward toward the top surface. The upper end or crown of these two holes is contracted to the center, and from the said crown to the lower part or opening of the hole the said hole is enlarged or reamed out.

A tripod-head, E, has three sockets, f, each of which is provided with a set-screw, f. These holes receive the ends of the legs G. Midway between the three sockets the tripod hasavcrtical spindle-hole, h. A bar, I, has at its center a tubular spindle, h, which fits in the spindle-hole h in the tripod-head. The tubular spindle is secured from coming out of the hole It by having its lower end, It, flared outward slightly or spread rivet fashion. By this construction the bar I may beturned as a swivel. This bar has at each end a vertical screw-hole occupied by an upward-pro jecting pin, 6, which at its upper end is pointed and at its lower end has a thumbscrew, 6 The two upward-projecting pins 6 occupy loosely the vertical holes 6 in the body A of the level, which latter is thereby supported. The level-body A is thus poised on the upper points of the pins e, and is free to vibrate laterally and to assumea level position crosswise when the pins are not truly vertical. Either end of the level-body may be raised or lowered by the thumb-screw c and thus by the aid of the spirit-level D the body may be made perfectly horizontal.

The hole or tubej of the bar-spindle is con tracted at the center, (see Fig. 5,) producing a shape similar to an hour-glass. The levelbody A, on its lower side, has a screw-eye, k, or similar device at the center, and a cord, Z, is attached thereto and passes down through the hole or tubej in the bar-spindle, and has at its lower end a plumb-bob, Z. The shape of the holej allows the cord Z to vibrate sufficiently. It will be seen the instrument will be effectually leveled in a crosswise direction by the Weight of the plumb-bob, and when the body A has been leveled in a longitudinal direction by the adjustment of the thumbscrews e the plumb-bob will indicate on the ground the central vertical line from the levelbody A downward.

The plumb-bob has at its lower end a point, and around its sides has several circumferential ribs, m, spaced one inch apart. These are useful, as they serve, when the length of cord Z is known, to denote the number of inches from the sight-line between the two bosses B 0 down to the surveyors stake Z, set in the ground.

The upper end, 10, of each leg G enters the socket f of the tripod-head, and just below the said upper end the leg has a curve, q, whereby the said end 19 takes a different direction from the rest of the leg. The bores of the f will retain the legs in this position.

When it is desired to carry the instrument some distance, the legs may be put in a more compact shape, and thereby facilitate its being carried, by loosening the set-scrcwsf and turning the legs, while their ends p remain in the socketsf. As each leg has a curve, g, be-

i to form said two points.

its back a set-screw, o.

low the socket, the effect of turning them, as stated, will be to bring all of the legs close to gether and in a parallel position, as shown in Fig. 7. Of course the tripod-head E will now be inclined with respect to the legs, as shown. \Vhcn the legs are thus parallel and close together, the instrument may be readily carried.

The target consists of a rod, II, and a block, L, provided with a clamp to slide-5h the rod.

The lower end of the rod is poinf and has a staple or loop-e3 e, 7", projecting l. zontaily from one side. This staple I call. tfindicator. One side of the rod has g. fduatcmarks indicating inches. These commence with 1 at the lower end and extend upward.

The target-block L has top and bottom edges 8, which are parallel, and each side edge has two points, t, a V-notch, i, being cut in The front face of the block is colored, and the back has a metal clamp-frame, J, which straddles the rod H loosely, so that the block is free to be moved up and down on the rod. The clamp-frame has a central pointer, u,whieh passes over the graduatemarks on the rod, and also has in A metal plate, to, fits loosely under the back of the clamp-frame J and is in contact with the rod II. This plate has at each end a lug or flange, :20, which takes on the top and bottom of the clamp-back and retains it to its position. The end of the set-screw v bears on the said plate to, and thereby the block L may slide easily and be set firmly on the red at any position and not injure the rod.

The manner ofusing the instrument will be readily understood. The level-body A must be leveled by means of the thumbscrews e and plumb-bob, and the target H L set up with its point at a stake, and then the body A turned to bring its sights in position for viewing the target.

Having described my invention, I claim and gesire to seeu re by Letters-Patent of the United tates- 1. A leveling-instrument having in combi nation a body provided with a spirit-level, sights, and two holes, 6, entering at the lower side and extending upward, a tripod-head, and a bar, I, having at each end avertical thumbscrew, 6 the upper ends of said screws loosely occupying the said holes in the body.

2. A leveling-instrument having in combination a body provided with a spirit-level, sights, and two holes, 0, entering at thelower side and extending upward, a tripod-head, a bar, I, swiveled to the tripod-head, and two vertical thumb-screws, 6 one at each end of the swiveled bar, the upper ends ot'said screws loosely occupying the said holes in the body.

3. A leveling-instrument having in combination a body provided with a spirit-level, sights, and two holes, 0, entering at thelower side and extending upward, a tripod-head, and a bar, I, having at each end a vertical thumb-screw, 0 the upper ends of said screws loosely occupying the said holes in the body,

a tubular spindle, h, connecting the tripodhcad and said bar, and a plumb bob hung bya cord, Z, which is attached to the said body and passes down through the tubular spindle.

4.. A leveling-instrument having in combination a body provided with a spirit-level and sights, a tripodhead, a tubular spindle, h, turning in the tripod-head, and a plumbbob hung by a cord, Z, which is attached to the said body and passes down through th tubular spindle.

5. A leveling instrument having in combination a body provided with a spirit-level and sights, a tripod-head, a tubular spindle,

h, turning in the tripod-head, and a plumbbob having circumferential ribs m and hung by a cord, I, which is attached to the said body and passes down through the tubular spindle.

6. A leveling-instrument having in combination a body provided with a spirit-level and sights, a tripod-head having leg-socketsf, the bores of which are parallel, and legs G, the upper ends, 19, of which enter the sockets, and each leg having a curve, q, just below the end part which occupies the sockets,whereby the legs maybe spread to form a pyramidstand, or may be turned in the sockets and brought close together and in parallel position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ED \VARD REICH ENBAOH;

IOO

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